Galveston in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Galveston Immigration Stations
Photographed By Gregory Walker, April 11, 2010
1. Galveston Immigration Stations Marker
Inscription.
Galveston Immigration Stations. . Galveston was the port of entry for thousands of immigrants who settled in Texas and the southwest. Federal laws enacted in 1875 ended the unrestricted entry of immigrants into the country and led to the establishment of the area's first U.S. Immigration Station at Galveston's Pier 29. There U.S. Customs officials conducted medical exams, baggage inspections and formal processing of immigrants; those found to be diseased or incapacitated faced deportation. The U.S. Congress chose Galveston over New Orleans as the site of a major new Federal immigration station in 1906. Plans to build an impressive immigrant landing station on Pelican Island comparable to New York's Ellis Island facility were never fully realized. The scaled-down station, fully operational by 1913, was damaged by hurricane winds in 1915 and closed in 1916. The immigration offices were subsequently relocated to a building on Galveston's 21st Street. A new 3-story immigration station containing immigration offices, dormitories, medical facilities, a kitchen, and dining and recreational areas was completed here at 1700 Strand Avenue in 1933. It was used as an immigration and deportee-staging facility until about 1940 when it was converted for use as a U.S. Customs Office.
Galveston was the port of entry for thousands of immigrants who settled in Texas and the southwest. Federal laws enacted in 1875 ended the unrestricted entry of immigrants into the country and led to the establishment of the area's first U.S. Immigration Station at Galveston's Pier 29. There U.S. Customs officials conducted medical exams, baggage inspections and formal processing of immigrants; those found to be diseased or incapacitated faced deportation. The U.S. Congress chose Galveston over New Orleans as the site of a major new Federal immigration station in 1906. Plans to build an impressive immigrant landing station on Pelican Island comparable to New York's Ellis Island facility were never fully realized. The scaled-down station, fully operational by 1913, was damaged by hurricane winds in 1915 and closed in 1916. The immigration offices were subsequently relocated to a building on Galveston's 21st Street. A new 3-story immigration station containing immigration offices, dormitories, medical facilities, a kitchen, and dining and recreational areas was completed here at 1700 Strand Avenue in 1933. It was used as an immigration and deportee-staging facility until about 1940 when it was converted for use as a U.S. Customs Office.
Erected 1993 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number
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7469.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.
Location. 29° 18.533′ N, 94° 47.294′ W. Marker is in Galveston, Texas, in Galveston County. Marker is on Strand St., on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1700 Strand St, Galveston TX 77550, United States of America. Touch for directions.
4. Galveston Immigration and Deportee Staging Facility
Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 7, 2010, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,886 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on May 7, 2010, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. 2. submitted on December 26, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 3. submitted on May 7, 2010, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. 4. submitted on December 26, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.